Wednesday, March 14, 2018

INELEGANT

       Well, I really didn't know there was such a word as inelegant, but I was the perfect example last night.   I was awfully inelegant.

       I was out at a meeting and came home shortly after nine.  Of course, at that time it was very dark.  I have a security light on the front of my house so parking  was fine. I walked to the back and found that the kitchen light that's usually on was off. It was pitch black. First of all you know that old guys like me don't see too well...especially in the dark. Secondly our balance isn't the greatest anymore.

       I got up the walk and the three steps to the back door and then my problem started. I was in the top step and balance became an issue .I didn't have much room to maneuver. So the way to get my balance was to step backward. That meant I was gong down stairs backwards. I'm not too good at going down stairs backwards at the best of times. 



     I made it down the three steps but when I hit the sidewalk my speed had picked up. Now I don't walk backwards very well so I tripped going backwards. I lurched against the brick wall of the house and sort of bounced. I hit the sidewalk on my butt and did a bit of a roll. fortunately I didn't hit my head. It was all in slow motion. I wonder why I couldn't have recovered at some point. My cap went flying. My meeting papers went on their own little flight. My pen disappeared. I did hang onto my keys. I had to unlock the door.

     I remember saying one very bad word and then I did what I always do when I fall...get up quickly before anybody sees me.

     Needless to say , the whole thing was very awkward and yes inelegant...totally lacking in grace. 

    I got in the house and turned on the lights and went back out to retrieve my belongings.

    I ripped my jacket sleeve and have a bruise on my left big butt. Other than being a little stiff I survived.

    It really makes one think seriously about falls when you're a senior.

36 comments:

  1. I am thankful that you were not seriously hurt! Maybe a little flash light on your key chain would help light your way! I hate falling...I was stiff and sore too...I took my sweet time getting up! Take Care Red!:)

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    1. The flash light is an excellent idea. My friend uses a flashlight. why didn't I take the hint.

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  2. A fall happens so darn FAST. It hurts. Hope you are doing OK now Red.

    I hate falling too - in June I fell flat on my face (tripped on a curb), broke my glasses, bled a lot from the cut where the bridge of my glasses removed quite a bit of skin, lay there and called for help (and people DID help very kindly), had an ambulance ride, x-rays of my nose/forehead - showed what might be a cracked bone, lots of tests, finally was cleaned up and finally got home when DH arrived 3 hours after I had arrived in Emergency. SO, don't fall again. (I tell myself very frequently).
    Joy

    Hand railing? Flashlight on keys sound like a very good idea. Being a 'senior' gets a bit more adventuresome each year we get older. I am being very careful and keeping my mind on what/where I am walking and I hang on to hand-rails on stairs.

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    1. Thanks for visiting Hiawatha House. It takes a long time to regain confidence after a fall.

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  3. Oh please be careful! I know I don't do very well any longer especially in the dark and on stairs. I hope you heal up quickly. Far Side has a good idea to carry a small light on your keyring.

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    1. Yes, the flashlight would have prevented my fall. Good idea.

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  4. Good grief! That is just so scary. Thank goodness you survived it more or less OK. I’ve had so many near misses and a couple of bad falls. Isn’t it funny how we’re more embarrassed than anything else when this happens?

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    1. Pride! That's why we get up in a hurry. Don't let anybody see us.

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  5. Oh wow! Red. I'm so glad you were not seriously hurt and that you didn't break anything. It is a real problem as we age to break something or lose balance. Sending you good thoughts for a quick recovery.

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    1. Thanks. This was one that could have been prevented.

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  6. Old people and balance are two things that not match very well helas. I always keep a hand at the guardrail when going down the stairs now. Lucky you were not hurt.

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    1. Balance gets worse for me as I age . I still do challenging things to keep going. It doesn't bother me on the bike or skating...just walking in small areas with turns.

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  7. I find myself slipping, as well. Take it easy, we love you!

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    1. Well if I take it easy I lose it so I skate and do other crazy things. I'm still 18 at heart!

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  8. I am also very glad you didn't hit your head. Falling at any age is no fun, but when you're our age, it's dangerous. Glad you are just a little sore and bruised. I have used the flashlight on my phone when it is really dark like that. :-)

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    1. It's not so much the dark but it's the time our eyes take to focus at different light levels.

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  9. Oh, yikes! Well, I'm glad you weren't more seriously injured. A fall can be a scary thing! I wonder why the light was off? Maybe you need a motion-detector light that comes on automatically?

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    1. The reason the light was off is a long story and we won't go there . However a security light is an excellent idea.

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  10. Ouch!

    I had one fall this winter, and my hand took the worst of it, cut open my palm trying to stop myself.

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    1. You're still young enough to catch yourself so your hand takes the beating. Old guys have an uncontrolled faol.

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  11. Replies
    1. Yes, your butt hits the ground before your brain knows you're falling.

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  12. Glad you weren't seriously hurt. Maybe a light in the back would help or a torch. I feel down last summer on a grassy patch and lucked out. Sore but not hurt.

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    1. I do have a light but it wasn't on. I will carry my small flashlight now.

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  13. Falls are indeed more serious and even frightening for seniors. I'm still having problems from my fall at the end of October. But I'm ten times more careful on those stairs now.

    I'm glad you weren't hurt worse than you described - that's bad enough. Steve's idea of a motion-sensitive light is good. Even cheaper (and can be done sooner) is a tiny penlight flashlight that can live on your key ring. It's when the routine is thrown off (like your light being off, when it's normally on) that chaos can happen. Take care, Red.

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    1. Thanks. After fall it takes a while to get your confidence back. That's why I get right back out and at it again.

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  14. I'm glad you escaped relatively unscathed. I am very aware of falling these days, as my stability often feels compromised.

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    1. Stability is a good term. we seem to have to concentrate on where we are.

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  15. I have major vertigo and a limited attention span when walking. Result many crashes. My nine lives are basically used up. Concentrate and go slowly is my new mantra...

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    1. There are too many good things to look at when we're walking so yes we can get into trouble.

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  16. Well, Red, I'm very pleased to hear that you have not been badly hurt.

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  17. Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself too badly! One bad fall and a lot of issues can come about. I read further up in a comment that you plan to carry a flashlight from now on. That's a great idea. I think all of us can benefit from that.

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  18. I am glad that you survived the fall Red. When we are children we fall over all the time with no ill-effects but just one fall for an older person can be life-changing. Perhaps you should have motion-operated light near your door.

    P.S. Is there a YouTube video of your fall?

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  19. Hello, that sounds like an awful fall. You are lucky you did not hurt yourself even more than you did. I agree with the commenter above maybe you need a motion detector light outside by the door. Take care and enjoy your day and weekend!

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  20. Hi Red, Dang, That was a fall! Sure glad you were not seriously hurt. I had one sibling, an older sister, Anne. She lived alone and fell in a hallway in her home and could not get up. Stayed there all night. Next day my nephew found her on the floor. Went to the hospital and came home in a wheel chair. That was the beginning of the end for her as she lasted only a couple of years before passing away. I do worry about falling. But it is hard to be careful with every step you take. I do think that suggestion in a earlier comment about a motion detector light is a good idea. Take care Red!

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  21. Oh, goodness, you were lucky. Nothing broken ... and no witnesses! I hope your bruises are healing quickly.

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